3 of My Favorite Ways to Fly Business Class on the Cheap

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I used to think business class tickets were strictly for wealthy travelers. When I saw the cash price of business class flights, I was shocked that anyone would spend that much. But now that I have more travel experience, I realize it's possible to book affordable business class tickets.

There are many strategies flyers can use to get a good deal. Are you eager to experience business class travel? I'll share several techniques I've used to score cheap business class flights over the last few years. Let me help you fly in style while staying on budget.

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1. Use your points and miles to book an award flight

Many travelers use rewards credit cards to pay for their travel expenses. You can earn points and miles when you swipe your credit cards for everyday purchases. With one of the best travel rewards credit cards in your wallet, a business class flight may be closer than you realize. Consider redeeming your credit card rewards for award flights.

You can use your rewards to book business class flights. Recently, I redeemed some of my credit card points for a roundtrip business class flight to Belgium. When it was all said and done, I paid $168 in taxes and fees for my ticket, which felt like a steal of a deal. Check out our list of the best travel credit cards to learn how to earn travel rewards.

2. Pay to upgrade your existing ticket

Do you have an economy or premium economy ticket booked for an upcoming trip? Many airlines allow passengers to pay to upgrade their existing seat to a premium class seat. You can check for upgrade offers in the airline's mobile app. I recommend re-checking upgrade offers because I've found they change often, so you may see a better deal later.

I successfully did this last winter for an overnight flight to Brazil. I paid only $655 to upgrade each one-way ticket on my itinerary. Instead of flying in economy on the lengthy overnight flight, I flew in a lie-flat business class seat and was much more comfortable. This upgrade was more affordable than paying the standard business class ticket price.

3. Book business class airfare deals

Sure, business class tickets can be expensive -- but that's not always the case. Sometimes, airlines run airfare deals, and this could be your secret to unlocking a cheap business class flight. One way to discover deals like this is to sign up for email newsletters and follow the social media accounts of your favorite airlines. However, there's another way to score deals like this.

You can invest in airfare deal services to stay in the know to incredible airfare deals, including heavily discounted business class flights. After subscribing, you'll receive email alerts when flight deals are available. I pay about $100 a year for a flight deal service called Thrifty Traveler Premium and it saved me thousands of dollars on flight costs last year alone.

I recommend giving deal services like this a try if you want to save money on airfare. These subscriptions are ideal for those with more flexible schedules, like remote workers and freelancers like myself. If you have flexibility and love to travel often, it may be worth exploring.

Don't give up on your travel goals

Yes, you'll pay more to improve your comfort when flying. But you don't necessarily have to spend thousands of dollars to fly in business class. You can book cheap tickets to enhance your travels, while still leaving plenty of money in your checking account .

I recommend giving some of these strategies a try so you too can experience the added comfort and amenities that are included with a business class ticket. You may end up flying in business class more than once, and saving money on the experience is always a win.

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